Ung Huot

The nation's Australian-educated foreign minister, a moderate who says he can work with de facto ruler Hun Sen, was tapped by the remnants of his party Wednesday to succeed ousted Prince Norodom Ranariddh as co-prime minister. "I put the interests of my country, my people, above anything else," said Ung Huot, telling reporters he would accept the job of first prime minister. "Above political parties, above my boss, Ranariddh.

King Norodom Sihanouk gave tacit approval Thursday to the replacement of his son as first prime minister, effectively endorsing last month's bloody coup by Hun Sen, the second prime minister. Army units loyal to Hun Sen, meanwhile, were deployed near the Thai border for a new offensive against opposition troops controlling the zone. An estimated 15,000 refugees displaced by fighting have gathered in the area.

The Clinton administration announced Wednesday that it will not recognize the parliamentary election of Ung Huot as Cambodia's first prime minister because of the "great atmosphere of intimidation" that, according to senior U.S. officials, prevented about 17% of the nation's legislators from voting. But the statement fell short of a formal rejection of Cambodia's new co-leader.

The Clinton administration announced Wednesday that it will not recognize the parliamentary election of Ung Huot as Cambodia's first prime minister because of the "great atmosphere of intimidation" that, according to senior U.S. officials, prevented about 17% of the nation's legislators from voting. But the statement fell short of a formal rejection of Cambodia's new co-leader.

King Norodom Sihanouk gave tacit approval Thursday to the replacement of his son as first prime minister, effectively endorsing last month's bloody coup by Hun Sen, the second prime minister. Army units loyal to Hun Sen, meanwhile, were deployed near the Thai border for a new offensive against opposition troops controlling the zone. An estimated 15,000 refugees displaced by fighting have gathered in the area.

An about-face by strongman Hun Sen on mediation in Cambodia's troubles raised hopes Wednesday of a breakthrough in the crisis sparked by the ouster of the country's royalist co-premier. Last week, Second Prime Minister Hun Sen rejected a proposal for mediation by the Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. Hun Sen, who ousted First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh in a July 6 coup, said foreigners should stay out of Cambodia's business.

Legislators here voted today to strip Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh of his legislative immunity, clearing the way for a criminal prosecution of the co-premier ousted in last month's coup. In a vote that displayed coup leader Hun Sen's total control over the once fractious and independent National Assembly, all but one of the 99 representatives present approved the motion.

King Norodom Sihanouk, while condemning the bloody coup that ousted his son as first prime minister, said in a letter that he is powerless to help the people. "I have no ability to do anything," the constitutional monarch wrote from Beijing, where he is undergoing medical treatment. He said he still regards his son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, as a legitimate prime minister. Lawmakers have confirmed Ung Huot, coup leader Hun Sen's handpicked replacement for Ranariddh.

This nation's ailing king returned home Friday and expressed hopes of restoring peace to his homeland, where a coup ousted his son as co-premier and ignited factional warfare. Arriving at the Siem Reap airport, a frail-looking King Norodom Sihanouk pressed his hands together in a traditional sign of respect and waved to hundreds of well-wishers. The 74-year-old king has been undergoing medical treatment in China.

King Norodom Sihanouk said Wednesday that Cambodian coup leader Hun Sen had rejected his offer to abdicate. From China, where he is undergoing medical treatment, the 74-year-old Sihanouk issued a statement saying his meeting Tuesday with Hun Sen had "passed without confrontation." Asked whether he intended to abdicate, which would deny legitimacy to last month's coup but also deprive Sihanouk of future influence, the king said Hun Sen had turned down his offer to give up the throne.

The nation's Australian-educated foreign minister, a moderate who says he can work with de facto ruler Hun Sen, was tapped by the remnants of his party Wednesday to succeed ousted Prince Norodom Ranariddh as co-prime minister. "I put the interests of my country, my people, above anything else," said Ung Huot, telling reporters he would accept the job of first prime minister. "Above political parties, above my boss, Ranariddh.

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright arrived in Malaysia on Friday to begin talks on how to defuse the Cambodian crisis, an effort that U.S. officials now concede may be prolonged and whose results may not be fully realized until scheduled parliamentary elections next year. Albright will meet over the next three days with counterparts in the Assn.